Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc (AUPH) Quote

Prescribing Lupkynis allows Nephrologists to taper steroid use faster . This is a good thing . Patients are more prone to infections , weight gain and mood swings on steroids and the patients usually hate them
Kiwi

Anyone have any thoughts on the new revised American College of Rheumatology guidelines for treatment of LN? Aurinia seems to think they are an improvement:

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241118903839/en/Aurinia-Commends-2024-Updated-ACR-Guidelines-for-Screening-Treatment-and-Management-of-Lupus-Nephritis#:~:text=The%20guidelines%20call%20for%20a,acceptable%20maintenance%20dose%20of%20steroids.

Otsuka launching Lupkynis today in Japan:

https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/company/newsreleases/2024/20241120_1.html

Hey! We were enjoying the peace and quiet here....

Wow the excitement on this board is overwhelming.

Fair enough Kiwi.

Well Jess you can review all my posts on Ihub ....boards posted on etc ...and review my positions on APP, RZLT , SWAV , SLNO etc .
APP and RZLT I still hold .
SWAV was bt out and selling SLNO ( up about 7X at time of sale ) was a huge mistake ( as I've noted )

Re AUPH , KZR , UNCY and ARDX
I'm not negative on AUPH . I think I responded to a post from Cosa some time that if I owned it I probably wouldn't be selling it .
However I'm not super positive on it and think theres limited upside .
Re KZR vs AUPH ...the early data on KZR IMHO looked better . But Co ran into mgt / BOD issues and eventually adverse events torpedoed the stock .
I posted long ago why I was exiting KZR

UNCY and ARDX
CMS appears determined to sink any opportunity for dialysis patients to be prescribed these new serum pho lowering drugs .
Yes they may have access to them , but the way the dialysis bundle works ( providers get to keep any $ left over between what CMS pays per dialysis ...about $273 .. and what they spend ) essentially means that dialysis providers won't prescribe the new Brand pho lowering drugs because of the expense of these new drugs .... and will push the low cost generics instead .
This will change if the Kidney Patient Act pass's

I expected UNCY to rally on FDA approval of its NDA ...Instead the mkt sold the news .
So I was very wrong on that

Kiwi

You said also then that KZR’s LN product in trial was going to be better than Lupkynis. That trial is now dead and buried. You are also so high in UNCY and ADRX. They seem to be fading now.

Not that I'm aware. Do know we have ability in ghat regard since we have huge margins.  Maybe the focus is so much on selling the company that they don't want to fiddle with that. 

We haven't heard one word about pricing flexibility, have we?

Yes it has looked like Powell is developing a spine (although he did cave during Trump's first term and may yet again) but saw story this morning Musk and others pushing to have Fed under control of Pres:

https://nypost.com/2024/11/11/business/elon-musk-backs-call-to-place-fed-under-trumps-control/


Hopefully with workforce reduction and Tang onboard we can get Auphie moving and sold before Vera enters the scene. 

Powell till mid 2026 which IMHO is a good thing
Re Tang Capital https://www.insightia.com/tang-exits-la-jolla-in-buyout/
Trumps win might make it easier to get a deal done ...M&A likely to increase
Re AUPH's P1 in Baff / April ....VERA is way ahead and IMHO will dominate this field

Kiwi

Stocktwits is a fire over this post:

https://x.com/tonkhalife/status/1855663911237747004?s=46&t=VJb6Ff31iAXg1p7xDcqPUQ

A Fierce Pharma article dated today about the restructuring, (As a side note, I didn't know that sales were flat from 2Q to 3Q so I will have to go back and look at that again):

https://www.amazon.com/YOGINGO-Pack-Christmas-Stockings-Personalized/dp/B0D86JV9ZQ/ref=sr_1_41?crid=1M8FRWGP1DKNR&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.P8XAFzm46Eai6mU0rxi3J657M6xzme7YFrtWeGO8Ahf5iEyxaa59x5UEfo2Pv8ou-RabXdTMjVcejZZbdETKHNdygdyXHKxl3FfdVnbe37_D9DIhEzbXxH_Y_3X2D3yhJ8hB3G35XqSNC8s-KwqGY0-YtcJAX61IcWZ3f5CCGjV6NMH9Q2hRVb2_YkHUwdBtFjDswLBWzLX37K9qkZGoRXr1XFshtSY2Jebev6a2fHYA77wocgoYlpiDeLzCMls71OzOwlD96yOHCo95Z26K0puFLkBiC_h6ptHEKLvSwUQ.AF18_HCbKa0FQd125MB3rir03ZFnegC_Hx0_-2CkKvI&dib_tag=se&keywords=christmas%2Bstockings&qid=1731015416&sprefix=christmas%2Bstocking%2Caps%2C191&sr=8-41&th=1

"After an activist investor revolted against the leadership team at Aurinia Pharmaceuticals, the CEO in question is resorting to restructuring.

Aurinia on Thursday unveiled a strategic overhaul that will slash 45% of the Canadian biotech’s entire workforce.

Aurinia expects the trimming will save it more than $40 million in annual operating expenses. The move will allow the company to focus on the commercialization of its lupus nephritis drug Lupkynis and the development of AUR200, an autoimmune disease candidate that Aurinia recently salvaged from its garbage can.

The cost savings will strengthen Aurinia’s financial position and “provide more flexibility to engage in future business building activities,” CEO Peter Greenleaf said on an investor call Thursday.

This marks the second round of layoffs at Aurinia in less than a year. Back in February, following a fruitless search for a potential buyer, Aurinia decided to reduce its headcount by about 25%.

At that time, Aurinia had decided to discontinue AUR200 but later revived the APRIL/BAFF inhibitor. Now, CEO Greenleaf in a Thursday statement said the organizational overhaul will help Aurinia accelerate the development of AUR200, an “important pipeline product.”

Greenleaf’s leadership at Aurinia was put into serious question when he and three other Aurinia board directors lost majority stockholder support during the company’s annual meeting. The company’s proposed executive pay packages also failed to garner majority investor backing.

As required by Aurinia’s company policy, the four directors submitted their resignations. But the board, while accepting the resignations of the other three members, argued that “there are exceptional circumstances that warrant the rejection of Mr. Greenleaf’s conditional resignation,” it said in a September securities filing. As a result, Greenleaf stayed on.

RELATED

Investor activism resurfaces at Aurinia after CEO’s board role, exec pay lost majority support
Amid broader investor disapproval of Aurinia’s leadership team, an activist shareholder who owned 2.2% of the company’s stock in August called for board and management changes, blasting them for “unchecked spending, ineffective leadership, and a clear lack of strategic direction.”

Lupkynis is currently Aurinia’s single commercial product, with third-quarter sales of $55.5 million. The number represents 36% year-over-year growth but is flat compared with $55 million in the second quarter. The number of patients on the therapy has grown about 25% to 2,422 as of the end of September, Greenleaf told investors on a call Thursday.

“This significant year-over-year growth was driven by patients restarting Lupkynis after being off therapy for an extended period of time, as well as hospital fills and maintaining high persistency rates year over year,” he said.

With total product revenue of $158.6 million in the first nine months of this year, Aurinia has kept its full-year guidance range of $210 million to $220 million.

As to AUR200, the company in September dosed the first participant in a phase 1 single-ascending dose study, with data expected in the first half of 2025. Aurinia has not disclosed the indications that it plans to develop AUR200 in. "

Some similarities and some not when comparison to LaJolla.  One thing that is similar is they had a drug that in no way met sales expectations as is the case here.  But I assume that you don't mean that being "Tang'd" is necessarily bad unless someone has a high cost basis here.  

Not sure if you saw today that Powell of the Fed Reserve developed a backbone and is saying he won't step down if asked. 

did you ring BR?

I think the move is the new guy on the BOD ...believe he is a Tang guy from La Jolla days ( which was acquired )
You're about to be " Tang'd "

Kiwi

Announced a strategic restructuring to "focus on Lupkynis and AUR200".  What the hell were they focusing on before?

To me it sounds like they are clearing the decks to be acquired. 

Well touching $8 in premarket this morning.  Announced earnings.  $.10 per share profit.  Laying off 45% of employees.  Probably none of the fat cats. 

So, this thing looks like it wants to move higher. Question is, will it stop at 9.5 or will we see double digits?

Wow. Same old story from you. Let Jess cheer you up!

and because of pete
AUPH (acquired by no one).

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Any time there is a big last minute move on an options expiry day it is likely to be options related in some fashion.

That said, they never got it down to 7 and there wasn't that much open interest in the 7 calls, especially if you think that most of today's volume in the Oct 7 calls was closing transactions (which I believe to be the case).

From X 3,500+ contracts sold today at the $7 strike with a high of $0.24 per contract.
MM’s raked in at least $40k today by bringing it down to $7 like that with no incoming bids.

Kidney wk next wk. 23rd-25th AUPH presenting some RWE ( real world evidence ) UNCY has several posters and VERA will publish their long term data on IgAN ...suggest U watch this release . Does Atacicept preserve kidney function ( eGFR ) over 96 wks better then the existing IgAN meds that simply slow decline

Kiwi

Was today’s late day drop option exp related? Seems it was steady almost the entire day and then wham.

That must have been pretty well discounted as our stock here not doing much on the news.

Our rival has news:

Oct 17 (Reuters) - Kezar Life Sciences (KZR.O), opens new tab said on Thursday it would terminate its mid-stage trial studying its experimental drug in patients with active lupus nephritis and focus on
developing the drug for a rare chronic disorder called autoimmune hepatitis.

That's the way I figured it. Of course, I have bought deep in the money, far out AUPH calls before thinking "of course it will be sold by then", so nothing is a sure thing.

Probably a good purchase. If no sale of company you still would lose very little if any.

Lord help me - I bought some AUPH calls!

I paid $2.48 for April 5 calls - pretty deep in the money. I am pretty confident AUPH will be sold by April. While we probably won't see a price in the $30 range like many old-timers had been hoping for, I do think we will get $10-$12. That would be a nice return.

Having been in AUPH so long, and with such high hopes, it is hard to re-track my thinking to look at AUPH as it stands right now.

Yep, home safe and sound. Funny about Tang and Kezar. They stopped the trial for LN and now FdA issuing a clinical hold. Would love to know Tang’s thinking on this.

Well hope U got out in time . Tang offers more than $1 a share for KZR ....will probably offer $10-$15 a share for AUPH .
Looks like he's trying for control of the severe LN market ...especially since VERA etc aren't pursing it
JMO
OMG. ...I just might have to buy some AUPH
Kiwi

For you Tang fans out there
$KZR Tang with a non-binding proposal to acquire 100% of the equity of Kezar Life Sciences, Inc. for $1.10 per share in cash, plus a CVR

https://archive.fast-edgar.com/20241008/ABBOQ22CIC22L2ZZ282R2MZZL8LQZ2Z2Z262/

Kiwi

No, opposite side of the state - 7 miles south of Daytona. Track of storm right now runs right through Orlando. Hoping it stays slow moving and our booked flight can get out Tues afternoon.

RMB. The Nephrologists my wife works with state their biggest problem is insurer push back due to cost of Lupkynis . Currently insurers in our area only want to cover for severe cases of LN where the patient has fairly rapid loss of kidney function ...ie for last best attempt ...and usually only for 6 mths .
Were you from the Tampa Bay Area ?.....looks to be pretty dicey next week
Good luck
Kiwi

Thanks for the article. I had previously seen it a while back and it is a good explanation of both drugs. However I guess it still comes down to what the person’s insurance co wants to do.

Yep, docked in Ft Lauderdale yesterday morning, rented a car and drove a couple of hundred miles north to spend the next few days seeing friends, etc where we spent 45 years of lives. Due to fly out of Orlando Tuesday afternoon, but now worried the approaching hurricane may throw a monkey wrench in that.

RMB. U might find this interesting
https://www.lupusencyclopedia.com/lupkynis-vs-benlysta-for-lupus-nephritis/

U back in the US or still aboard that floating Petri dish :--)

Kiwi

Do you think a potential acquirer will have that as a concern as well though. I suppose it would all depend on the price they would have to pay.

RMB Because of the expense of Lupkynis ...around $90k a yr ..insurers have major prior authorization hurdles often requiring Benlysta to be tried first . Benny is around $50k a yr and due to go generic in 2025
The patent for Benlysta is set to expire in the United States in 2025 and in Europe in 2026

Tangs a major AUPH player now and will definitely want a deal done before a generic Benny is available.

On September 6, 2024, TANG CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC (Trades, Portfolio) made a notable addition to its investment portfolio by acquiring 4,450,000 shares of Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc (NASDAQ:AUPH), a biopharmaceutical company based in Canada.Sep 12, 2024
JMO
Kiwi

Could that be the reason for reticence by potential buyers?

Don't they need a sale soon, hopefully before the end of the year?

Lupkynis is a drug owned by Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. It is protected by 3 US drug patents filed from 2021 to 2023 out of which none have expired yet. Lupkynis's patents will be open to challenges from 22 January, 2025. Based on its patents and exclusivities, its generic launch date is estimated to be Dec 07, 2037. Details of Lupkynis's patents and their expiration are given in the table below.

Patent # US7332472 Cyclosporine analogue mixtures and their use as immunomodulating agents
Expires: Oct, 2024 (11 days from now)
Status: Active

Patent # US11622991 Protocol for treatment of lupus nephritis
Expires: Dec, 2037 (13 years from now)
Status: Active

Patent # US10286036 Protocol for treatment of lupus nephritis
Expires: Dec, 2037 (13 years from now)
Status: Active

https://pharsight.greyb.com/drug/lupkynis-patent-expiration

Kiwi- Thx for the explanation re KZR.
Hard to believe they were $30+ once!
Oh, wait....so were we
cheers

Why isn't the medical world listening?
They seem to be ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ..........................

Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of voclosporin for the treatment of lupus nephritis in the United States

CONCLUSIONS:

Following the inclusion of updated data in the cost-effectiveness analysis, voclosporin remains a cost-effective therapy for the treatment of active LN including in a Black, Hispanic, and Latino subpopulation, substantially below the ICER willingness-to-pay threshold of $150,000/QALY.

https://www.jmcp.org/doi/full/10.18553/jmcp.2024.23324

Moose. The overall renal response rate ( ORR ) was higher in KZR's P2 trial .
Kezar reports positive Phase II data of zetomipzomib for lupus nephritis
In the trial, 64.7% of the trial subjects attained an ORR, which is the primary efficacy endpoint of the study.
vs Lupkynis

The overall renal response rate (ORR) for LUPKYNIS was 41% at 52 weeks, compared to 23% for the control group receiving standard of care alone.
Hard to compare trials as KZR's was open label etc
KZR then ran into internal conflict on which program to advance and stock tanked .
When they finally go their LN program going again it was I believe as a P2b ( not a P 3 pivotal trial ) ...and have halted that trial due to safety concerns.

I usually only invest to biotech's running clinical trials ( Not Co's with approved drugs ...although I made an exception with ARDX recently ....and still hold a very small position in AMRN ( because I'm prescribed the drug and I'm an idiot ) )

Good luck with AUPH
Kiwi

I originally liked the KZR data better than the AUPH data

Wasn't the "data" only from a very small pt group; was it only about 5 people?

Can't remember but was puzzled why you liked it and thought it somehow superior to AUPH's

Even less competition for U now Jess

US-based biopharmaceutical company Kezar Life Sciences has suspended subject enrolment and patient dosing in the Phase II PALIZADE trial of zetomipzomib for active lupus nephritis.

The decision to suspend the trial was made following recommendations from an independent data monitoring committee (IDMC) after it had reviewed safety data from the trial.

I originally liked the KZR data better than the AUPH data ...but KZR ran into problems , stock crashed and now their last remaining serious LN trial has been suspended for safety reasons .

Kiwi

So, monopoly on best-in-class for many years to come and soon to be SOC, not too bad Kiwi. I don’t know why you’re not invested yet in this. Anyway, I hope we have a BO soon here. Good luck on your other stocks.

Jess. No mention of pursuing the LN indication at Vera's KOL day today . Next catalysts for AUPH likely to be Kidney Week at the end of October ( if they present anything ) and their next earnings report
Kiwi

would be nice if we had a best case scenario, but no we are still stuck with pete, a low share price and time running out for a corner on the market. with pete at the helm the corner we will soon be on is a cardboard box on the corner of the freeway